Thomas Vanek is a Montreal Canadien. It's a great deal for the Habs — but we'll talk about that later.

For now, let's focus on the fact that the New York Islanders, a few months after giving up Matt Moulson and a first-round pick to get Vanek, flipped him for … actually, can you call it a "flip" when your return isn't all that great? The Isles, in return for a 30-goal scorer, received prospect Sebastien Collberg and a second-round pick only if Montreal makes the playoffs. They also gave Montreal a fifth-round pick.

That, good as Vanek is, made the deal the best of the NHL trade deadline. Montreal is a lot better, and the Isles managed to turn Moulson, Vanek and a first-rounder into a prospect and a second-round pick. Maybe.

So, people are mad — including none other than John Spano, who fraudulently attempted to buy the Islanders in the mid-1990s. He had words for Charles Wang, who legitimately bought the team in his wake.

Dear C. Wang. It is a privilege to own the NY Islanders. Maybe it is time for u to sell. We have caused this fan base enough heartache.